Quiz: Howstuffworks

Can You Identify These Best-Selling Musicians of All Time?

Olivia Cantor

Image: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. via Wiki Commons

About This Quiz

Do you want to guess who the best-selling musicians of all time are?

If you want to check the facts and data, just take a look at the tally made by the Recording Industry Association of America. The RIAA gives out gold and platinum certifications for musicians who have sold units of their albums. But it's not only American artists they're tallying there. They're concerned with all the artists that have sold many albums in the U.S. So musicians in their tally could be from foreign lands, too, who have hit it big in America.

The RIAA's listing is not exactly mirrored the world over. Of course, each region or country could also have their respective best-sellers. But it's no secret that once you've hit it big in the U.S., chances are, your popularity will also extend worldwide! Whenever they visit a country they think is "obscure" or small, they will always end up in awe at the warm reception they get from their legions of fans in a certain place.

So, can you guess who these big-time musicians are? Check out the quiz and see!

West Midlands Police via Wiki Commons

This group said "Here Comes The Sun" and the money as well! Who's got this ticket to ride?

The Carpenters

The Monkees

The Platters

The Beatles

The Record Industry Association of America tallies that The Beatles sold around 178 million units of their albums combined, making them the top best-selling musical artist of all time. Many of their albums are certified multi-platinum awardees.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. via Wiki Commons

He ain't nothin' but a "Hound Dog" if he didn't earn some moolah! Who was this teddy bear?

Elvis Presley

Chubby Checker

David Bowie

Ted Nugent

In the best-selling tally of all time, the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley, comes in third place when it comes to having the most number of albums sold. The King has 146.5 million units sold, including soundtrack albums from his movies such as "G.I. Blues" and "Blue Hawaii," to name a few.

She's got "One Sweet Day" cashing in on those platinum albums! Who is this dream lover?

Jennifer Hudson

Beyoncé

Mariah Carey

Annie Lennox

Mariah Carey comes in at number 16 in the tally of the all-time best-selling musical artist in our lifetime. She has been certified gold 16 times, platinum 14 times, multi-platinum 10 times, and diamond certified twice for the albums "Music Box" (1993) and "Daydream" (1995)

Interscope Records

She's not the "Material Girl" for nothing! Who's that girl?

Madonna

Tracy Chapman

Patti LaBelle

Barbra Streisand

The Material Girl has sold 64.5 million albums in her lifetime, so far, and she's just one notch ahead of Mariah Carey, placing her at number 15. Madonna is still very much at it, though, so that number might still increase. Her latest album is called "Rebel Heart" (2015).

Wiki Commons by Casta03

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" riches, he might have meant! Who was this smooth criminal?

Randy Jackson

Michael Jackson

Jackson Browne

Tito Jackson

Michael Jackson comes in at number seven in the tally of the most number of albums sold, with 84 million units. This includes albums of all types: vinyl, CD, cassettes, and even digital formats. This tally counts posthumous releases, too, like his 2014 album called "Xscape."

Rolling Stones Records

They can "Paint It Black" and get the greenbacks, too. Who can't get no satisfaction?

AC/DC

Pink Floyd

The Rolling Stones

Led Zeppelin

Mick Jagger and the rest of the Rolling Stones may not be included in the top 10 best-selling artists of all time, but they're still in a great place. The group comes in at number 13, with 66.5 million album units sold, majority of which are certified gold.

Apple Music via YouTube

She can "Shake It Off" and dance to the bank with it! Who has this picture to burn?

Diana Ross

Tina Turner

Taylor Swift

Mary J. Blige

She might be pretty young to be in an all-time best-selling list, but Taylor Swift impressively makes it to this chart nonetheless. At number 30, she just outsold Reba McIntyre by two million units and Tim McGraw by 5.5 million units, since her tally is at 43 million units sold.

Library of Congress via Wiki Commons

"Don't Rain On My Parade" if you want her to belt it all the way to the bank! Who is this evergreen legend?

Barbra Streisand

Judy Garland

Liza Minelli

Gladys Knight

Barbra Streisand is not very far from the top 10 list here, since she comes in at number 12 with 68.5 million album units sold in this lifetime, so far. While some of her albums were certified multi-platinum a dozen times as well, she never had an album that reached diamond certification.

Island Records

It's a "Beautiful Day" indeed if they earn this way! Who's this angel of Harlem?

Van Halen

U2

Fleetwood Mac

INXS

U2 comes in at number 21 in this all-time tally, with 52 million album units sold. It's interesting to note that they were certified gold 17 times, and certified platinum 17 times as well. To be certified gold means you sold 500,000 units, and platinum is a million units.

Columbia Records

She can definitely earn with "The Power of Love." Who's got this power of the dream?

Patti Smith

Dolly Parton

Celine Dion

Janet Jackson

Canadian diva Celine Dion has multilingual fans, since she also produces multilingual albums, namely English and French. No wonder she has sold 50 million units, listing her at number 22 in this tally, just right after U2, and right above Neil Diamond.

Columbia Records

"You May Be Right" in saying he earns well! Who's this Long Islander?

Phil Collins

Billy Joel

Rod Stewart

Kenny Loggins

Did you know that Billy Joel just outranked Michael Jackson by half a million units in this tally, placing him at number six? However, the band that comes just right before him has 111.5 million units sold, and that's a big discrepancy there! That group is Led Zeppelin, by the way.

Aftermath/Shady/Interscope

He's "The Real Slim Shady!" Who's this rapper?

Snoop Dogg

Dr. Dre

Eminem

Kanye West

Coming in at number 27 on this list of best-selling albums of all time, Eminem also holds the distinction of being the top-selling rap artist in this tally. Some of the other rap artists in the tally, but who come way lower in ranking, include 2Pac, Jay-Z, Beastie Boys, Outkast, and Notorious B.I.G.

They told us to "Walk This Way" if we want some action! Who are these dudes that look like ladies?

Run-DMC

Beastie Boys

Aerosmith

Pink Floyd

Aerosmith actually ties with The Rolling Stones as they are also in the number 13 slot of this tally. But they both have one diamond certification, which means an album of theirs sold 10 million units. That diamond album is their 1980 release called "Greatest Hits."

Wiki Commons by Raph_PH

They want us to take cover from the "November Rain." Who is this sweet child o' mine?

Earth, Wind and Fire

Gorillaz

Morrisey

Guns N' Roses

Guns N' Roses actually comes in number 28 of this tally, but they're sharing that spot with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. Axl, Slash and the gang was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, though, in 2012, while Bob Seger got inducted in 2004.

BBC via YouTube

He can blow a "Candle in the Wind" for the right charities. Who's this tiny dancer?

Elton John

Johnny Cash

Willie Nelson

Steve Winwood

Elton John trails right after Michael Jackson in this list, coming in at number eight. With 78.5 million units sold, he just outsold Pink Floyd and AC/DC a bit, who come in at number nine and ten, respectively. "The Lion King" soundtrack album remains one of his best-selling works.

Elektra Records

"Enter Sandman," enter fame and fortune, too. Who are these unforgiven ones?

America

Metallica

Megadeth

The Prodigy

Metallica is in good company in this list as the heavy metal band comes in at number 17, just right after Madonna and Mariah Carey. But the top 10 tally includes their hard-rocking predecessors like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and AC/DC, so the U.S. obviously loves rocking hard to their kind of music!

Columbia Records

He's"Blowin' in the Wind" most times. Who is Mr. Tambourine Man?

Tim Buckley

Van Morrison

Neil Young

Bob Dylan

Folk hero Bob Dylan, the controversial recipient of the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature, comes in at number 39 on the best-selling musicians list. He was controversial for that Nobel win because it's the first time the prestigious award was given to a musician-songwriter.

STXfilms

She could "Love The Way You Lie" from time to time. Who is this only girl in the world?

Rihanna

Jennifer Lopez

Christina Aguilera

Ashanti

The currently popular Rihanna has a multiple tie going on with many artists who come in at number 62 of the best-selling list. With an impressive 22.5 million album units sold so far, she shares this distinction with an eclectic bunch that includes Usher, Heart, Lionel Richie, and The Beach Boys.

XL/Columbia/Sony

She can "Set Fire To The Rain" if she wanted to! Who's this chasing pavements?

Amy Winehouse

Dua Lipa

Adele

Natasha Bedingfield

Adele comes in at number 50, and she shares that spot with other artists that sold 28 million units of their album, including Michael Bolton, N'Sync, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees the Bee Gees, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Her last album release was 2015's "25."

James Anderson via Wiki Commons

They accused that "You Give Love A Bad Name." Who's this bad medicine?

Def Leppard

Poison

Whitesnake

Bon Jovi

With 34.5 million album units sold, Jon Bon Jovi, with his Bon Jovi band, shares number 41 of this tally with the legendary rock band Queen as well as Dave Matthews Band. Britney Spears is in that spot with them as well. Their last album was called "This House is Not For Sale" released in 2016.

EMI/Capitol Records

"We Will Rock You," they proclaimed, and they did! Who are these champions, my friends?

The Who

Queen

Scorpion

Styx

With the success of the "Bohemian Rhapsody" biopic featuring the U.K. band Queen, their legendary 41st spot in this all-time tally could be bumped up some more in the coming years. The world had renewed interest in the band when the film came out, especially when it got many award nominations.

Jive Records

This "Baby One More Time" artist is a "slave 4 U." Who is she?

Pink

Christina Aguilera

Britney Spears

Katy Perry

Born in 1981, Britney Spears definitely became the voice of millennials who came of age in the late 1990s and early 2000s. While she has had huge success in her career, the world still can't forget that she once had a marriage that lasted for only 55 hours.

Columbia Records

He was "Born in the U.S.A." Who's this dancing in the dark?

Bruce Hornsby

Tom Petty

Bruce Springsteen

John Mellencamp

With 65.5 million album units sold, America definitely loves their folk rockers, and Bruce Springsteen is the embodiment of this persona. To think that he started being active in the music scene as far back as the mid-'60s, he still garners renewed popularity with every new decade.

National Archives via Wiki Commons

They were on "Top of the World" in their heyday. Who was this superstar?

Hall and Oates

Tears for Fears

The Carpenters

The Everly Brothers

The brother-sister tandem of The Carpenters is in number 58 of the tally. They received their star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 1983, eight months right after Karen Carpenter died of anorexia nervosa complications. Her death helped open the conversation on women's body image pressures.

Elektra Records-Joel Brodsky via Wiki Commons

They got the "Roadhouse Blues!" Who are these riders on the storm?

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

The Doors

Deep Purple

The Who

The Doors were active from 1965 to 1973 only, but those brief years were enough to thrust their popularity and album sales. The group is in number 43 of this best-selling tally, and they share that spot with folk singer James Taylor. Oliver Stone directed a biopic of the group, released in 1991.

Rob Bogaerts/Anefo via Wiki Commons

They built a "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Who's the homeward bound duo?

Ashford & Simpson

Sonny & Cher

Simon & Garfunkel

The Everly Brothers

Simon & Garfunkel comes in at number 33 with 38.5 million album units sold. However, without Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon is also in the list as a solo artist with a tally of 13.5 million units of his solo album efforts sold.

Larry King/Ora TV via YouTube

He wondered "What She's Doing Now." Who's callin' Baton Rouge?

George Strait

Blake Shelton

Tim McGraw

Garth Brooks

Interestingly enough, America loves country music so much that Garth Brooks finds himself as the second best-selling musical artist of all time, just trailing The Beatles by 30 million units sold (he has 148 million). The singer-songwriter got inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame back in 2012.

The Recording Academy via YouTube

"Quit Playing Games" with these boys! Everyboooody, can you name 'em?

Boyz II Men

Backstreet Boys

Westlife

Hanson

In the all-time best-selling tally, it's interesting to note that the boyband Backstreet Boys outsold many legendary older artists such as Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, Prince, and Willie Nelson, to name a few. They also outsold fellow boybands N'Sync and New Kids on the Block, too.

Parkwood/Columbia

All the "Single Ladies," we know you know who she is! Who run the world?

Ciara

Beyoncé

Nicki Minaj

Jennifer Lopez

Beyoncé may not have numbers in the hundreds of millions, but her record of 13 million album units sold, so far, is still an impressive feat. But her former group, Destiny's Child, outsold her a bit, with 17.5 million album units to their collective credit.

Arista Records

"Could It Be Magic" if you knew who this is? Who writes the songs that make the whole world sing?

Barry Manilow

Paul Anka

Neil Sedaka

Lionel Richie

Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow is actually tied with Jay-Z and John Mellencamp with 27.5 million album units sold. In 2017, at the rocking age of 73, the prolific performer publicly came out as a gay man, saying that he has a male partner, and that they have been together for nearly 40 years.

Warner Bros.

Who's this artists who sang "Tears in Heaven"?

Eric Clapton

Bob Marley

Warren G

UB40

Eric Clapton finds himself at the top 40 tally of best-selling artists of all time, coming in at number 32 with 40 million album units sold. He also got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame thrice, because he was inducted as a member of The Yardbirds, then Cream, then as a solo artist.

Asterio Tecson via Wiki Commons

She was "Saving All My Love" for y'all, during her lifetime. Who was this every woman?

Toni Braxton

Janet Jackson

Jennifer Hudson

Whitney Houston

R&B-pop diva Whitney Houston is among the top 20 best-selling artists where she sits at spot number 18, with a total of 58.5 million album units sold. Her unforgettable songs are karaoke favorites the world over, and contestants of singing competitions also love belting out her meaningful tunes.

Warner Vision

They got some "Heartache Tonight." Who is this "Desperado" group?

Steve Miller Band

Doobie Brothers

Eagles

Boston

Eagles, the group founded by Don Henley, Glen Frey, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner back in 1971, holds the enviable record of being the fourth musical act on the best-selling list. They sold 120 million album units, and "Hotel California" remains as one of their most popular songs of all time.

Steve Perry via YouTube

"Don't Stop Believin'" and guessing who this is! Can you faithfully name the group?

Journey

Chicago

Little River Band

Steely Dan

Journey continues to sell many albums up to this day. Since being established back in 1973, they have had many membership changes over the decades. The band now has Arnel Pineda as its lead vocalist, a singer from the Philippines whom they discovered on YouTube and uncannily sounds like Steve Perry.

Columbia Records

"Oye Como Va," who is this smooth artist?

Buena Vista Social Club

Los Lobos

Santana

Miami Sound Machine

Santana is one of the bands that performed in the legendary Woodstock event back in 1969. They got formed way back in 1966, though, and the group is led by Carlos Santana. The band got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Lopez Kun via Wiki Commons

"Life Goes On" as well as his legacy. Who had this California love?

Dr. Dre

Nas

2Pac

Ice Cube

Tupac Shakur, also know as 2Pac in the hiphop community, is one of the best-selling rap acts of all time. He was actually born in Harlem, New York, but he found fame when he moved to Los Angeles, California. He was gunned down in Las Vegas, Nevada, though, in a gang-related altercation.

Wiki Commons by Lrheath

They sang about "Jeremy." Who's this better man?

Pearl Jam

Nirvana

Soundgarden

Radiohead

One of the recognizable bands to come out of the Seattle grunge scene is Pearl Jam, fronted by vocalist Eddie Vedder. Their very first album is called "Ten," followed by "Vs." and "Vitalogy," which all helped define the specific grunge sound of the '90s.

Atco Records via YouTube

"To Love Somebody," take their cue! Who's stayin' alive up to now?

ABBA

Electric Light Orchestra

Bee Gees

Air Supply

The '70s was a very colorful decade, disco dancing-wise, thanks to the brothers that made up the group called Bee Gees, namely Robin, Maurice, and Barry Gibb. It's interesting to note, though, that they were actually formed as far back as 1958.

William P. Gottlieb via Wiki Commons

"The Lady is a Tramp," he claimed. Who did it his way?

Bing Crosby

Tony Bennett

Frank Sinatra

Dean Martin

It's interesting to note that Frank Sinatra holds the record for 27 million album units sold, and he's tied in that number with Linkin Park and Boyz II Men. This proves that Ol' Blue Eyes is still an unforgettable act up to now, and his legacy lives on, decade after decade.

Reprise Records

"You Are Loved," he reminded us. Who raises you up?

Andrea Bocelli

Michael Bublé

Michael Bolton

Josh Groban

Josh Groban was born in 1981, yet he already achieved multi-platinum status in his young career. At 17 years of age, he was already working with stellar performers, notably David Foster. He was actually preparing to study full-time at the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University when stardom beckoned.

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